|
|
|
LAKE CHATUGE ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
|
WHERE WE TREAT YOUR PETS LIKE FAMILY
|
|
 |
 |
| |
Business policy:
As with any small business, payment for services is expected at the time services are rendered.
Rationale for pricings:
The fee structure for LCAH was developed in an objective manner by obtaining the economic demographics as provided by the US Census Bureau. This data was provided to an internationally recognized and acclaimed practice management consultant who takes demographic data and develops fair pricing that is appropriate for the economic situation of the area. In addition, we obtained other practice fees in the area for all routine services such as office calls, exam fees, vaccinations, in-house testings (heartworm, fecal, leukemia, …), spay/neuters, boarding, groomings etc. Then our pricing was deliberately placed in the median / mean area to assure equity. We are certain that our prices are consistent with the area for comparable practices. This process is repeated annually.
We understand and are concerned about the rising costs of animal care. Therefore, we have developed ways to try and help in those situations when clients are faced with unexpected expenses or have special circumstances. The following services are provided by Lake Chatuge Animal Hospital:
1. APC = Affordable Pet Care
This is provided through an Atlanta based company. It is a group membership offering where a small membership fee provides across the board discounts on essentially all veterinary services and other animal health products and services ranging from 10-60%. Most discounts fall in the 10-20% range. It covers all pets in the family whether it is one or many. If a family has several pets, this is a very good way to reduce animal health costs. It is not an insurance policy. The key difference is that there are no exclusions for existing medical conditions.
2. Care Credit
This is a way for clients to get a 0 interest short-term loan (up to 6 months) to cover any invoice(s), or a low interest long-term loan if necessary. We are only able to provide this loan service by paying for this service to be available. This financial service is very user friendly because we are set up by special computer software to seek credit approval on our client’s behalf within a few minutes.
3. Pet Insurance
There are several health insurance companies that also provide pet insurance today. The largest one is VPI (Veterinary Pet Insurance). Literature and contact info is available through LCAH. This has to be established prior to an office visit and examination for a service to be approved. It has similar benfits as human health insurance policies. More and more clients are buying pet health insurance and it is certainly worth looking into. LCAH staff can help folks who are interested in pet health insurance.
4. John Todd Jr. Memorial Good Samaritan Fund
Through various fund raising efforts by LCAH, several local companies and individuals have generously provided donations to a fund that is reserved to assist clients who have encountered financial difficulties and lack access to any other resources to cover unexpected medical expenses involving thier pet(s). This fund has been used on several occasions to help provide needed medical and/or surgical care that could not have been done otherwise. This is a perpetual fund that demonstrates the ongoing compassion of our community. Please contact our front office if you are interested in contributing to this worthy cause.
LCAH financial position statement:
All of us at LCAH fully understand the challenges of keeping up with the rising costs of animal health. Our guiding principle is that our client’s pets should be treated like family, which means they deserve only the very best. Therefore, we have proactively sought out methods to help our clients receive discounted services and ways to obtain no to low interest loans when the needs arise.
In addition, we recognize there remains a segment of our community that still needs help beyond the offered programs. This is why we fully cooperate with all discount spay / neuter programs in our area (several SPCA, Whiskers Feline Project for feral cats, and foster pet families), and provide veterinary care to our local humane societies at greatly reduced prices (essentially at costs).
We sincerely have compassion for families who struggle to provide their pets the best of health care, and will do all we can to provide them quality pet care services.
We also have a responsibility and desire to provide the very best animal health care possible to the community via a first-rate facility that this community deserves. Although we are very active in donating services and products to charity events, developing and initiating programs to provide discounted services and products, and work closely with the community animal service organizations, LCAH is a for-profit business with financial obligations necessary to meet high quality standards and to provide a reasonable standard of living for an excellent and compassionate staff.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
